=5.= _built cities for defence_] This does not mean that all these cities were then built for the first time; certainly Beth-lehem, Tekoa, and Hebron were ancient places. Rebuilding, strengthening, and fortifying are included in the meaning of the Hebrew verb _bānāh = build_. The cities mentioned were situated some in the hill country of Judah, some in the Shephelah. It is probable that they were strengthened as a measure of defence against Egypt. Less likely is the suggestion that they were fortified chiefly to prevent or suppress insurrection against Rehoboam in Judah. See also Introduction § 7, p. xlviii. ⁶He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, =6.= _Etam_] Probably represented by some ruins a little to the south-west of Beth-lehem, by which is a spring called _Ain ‘Atān_. Compare 1 Chronicles iv. 3. Bädeker, _Palestine_⁵, p. 109. ⁷and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam, =7.= _Beth-zur_] Represented by the ruin _Burj Ṣūr_ to the north of Hebron. Compare Joshua xv. 58. Bädeker, _Palestine_⁵, p. 112. _Soco_] The cities hitherto mentioned were situated in the hill country, but the position of the _Soco_ here mentioned and _Adullam_ is uncertain. Two places bore the name _Soco_ or _Socoh_, one situated in the Shephelah (Joshua xv. 35; 1 Samuel xvii. 1, Revised Version), and one in the hill country (“the mountains,” Joshua xv. 48)――see note 1 Chronicles iv. 18. For Adullam compare Joshua xv. 35; 1 Chronicles xi. 15 (note on _the cave of Adullam_). ⁸and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, =8.= _Gath_] compare 1 Chronicles xviii. 1. _Mareshah_] In the Shephelah south of the modern _Beit Jibrin_. Compare xiv. 9, xx. 37. _Ziph_] Probably _Tell Zif_ south of Hebron. ⁹and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, =9.= _Adoraim_] The modern _Dora_ west of Hebron. _Azekah_] In the Shephelah, mentioned along with Socoh in Joshua xv. 35. ¹⁰and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities. ¹¹And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine. =10.= _Zorah_] Joshua xv. 33 (Revised Version). It was situated in the Shephelah. _Aijalon_] The modern _Yalo_, a little north of the Jaffa road about midway between Ramleh and Jerusalem. It is an ancient place mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna letters. Compare xxviii. 18 and 1 Chronicles vi. 69; also Smith, _Historical Geography of the Holy Land_ pp. 210‒213. _and in Benjamin_] None of the fifteen cities seems to have been in Benjamin. Zorah and Aijalon were in Dan (Joshua xix. 41, 42, Revised Version), while the remaining thirteen were in Judah. Compare verse 5.